Sri Lanka – often referred to as the Pearl of the India ocean – is a small island that packs a big punch when it comes to diverse national parks, tropical beaches, picturesque villages, and some of the world’s most spectacular train journeys. With its golden sandy beaches, azure blue waters and warm tropical climate, Sri Lanka is a year-round destination for holidaymakers seeking sun, sand and sea. The island has a rich cultural heritage that dates back over 2,000 years.

Karen Pearson leads this new Art Safari from the west coast and on through the lush interior, finishing up in the colourful harbour city of Galle.

We begin with a night in the beach town of Negombo before heading up to Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest national park – Wilpattu – where we hope to spot leopard, sloth bear, barking deer, painted stork, spoonbill, crested serpent eagle, and different varieties of hornbill to name but a few of the species that make their home in the varied landscapes and archaeological ruins of the park.

Our next stop is Habarana, our base for exploring local villages, sketching the stunning rock fortress of Sigiriya, and looking for wild Asian elephants in the nearby national parks and capturing their large grey and unmistakeable forms in our sketchbooks.

We continue on to the busy and beautifully picturesque town of Kandy where we spend time amongst the Royal Botanical Gardens, home to almost 4000 species of plants. We aim to fill our sketchbook pages with studies of delicate orchids, medicinal herbs, spices, and soaring palms.

One of the highlights is the spectacular train journey through the central highlands between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya where we enjoy sweeping views of the mountains laden with tea fields, cloud forests, numerous streams and waterfalls.

Nuwara Eliya is our jumping off point for the grassland, forest and plateau of Horton National Park with its stunning array of flora and fauna, unique to this area. We will also paint amidst the rolling green hills of a tea plantation.

We spend our last few days of the tour in the the historic harbour city of Galle, once a sleepy town, it’s now a bustling area with a distinctly Mediterranean feel. We try our hand at speed sketching the famous fishermen on stilts who perch precariously above the water looking for their next catch.

Tour Highlights

• Sketch the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya
• Game drives in Wilpattu National Park
• Visit the cave temple of Dambulla
• Walk with the pilgrims to the Temple of the Tooth Relic
• Relax and paint in the Royal Botanical Gardens
• Scenic train ride from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
• Look for Wild Asian Elephants in Minneriya/Kaudulla National Parks
• Explore the ancient city of Galle